ARTIST STATEMENT:

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY:

Blaine Fontana currently lives and works in Portland, Oregon. Imbuing his vision with the divine symbolism of religious myths, worldly folklore and current social dynamics, his works contain a kind of shamanic exploration of meaning that recognizes the totemic quality and power of the image. With extensive experience within the design world, including working as a designer for Felt Bicycles and acting art director for Zero+ Publishing, Fontana’s work displays a virtuosic understanding of sign & simulacra and their role within our contemporary visual culture. Straddling the physical and metaphysical, organic and architectural, painterly and graphic sensibilities, Fontana fuses multiple visual strategies to forge an aesthetic language entirely of his own making.

His works have been published in a variety of publications, including VNA, Paper Sea, iDN, Hi-Fructose, Juxtapoz, My Name Is, Sycamore Review, Soul Pancake, and Mod Art. He has exhibited nationally in Seattle, Portland, San Diego, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Denver, Austin, Miami, and New York, and internationally in Germany, Canada and Japan.

He has designed and licensed work for a number of companies and organizations including TEDx, VANS, adidas, Umpqua Bank, SCION Installation Art Tour, Patagonia, Nike, Toyota, Kid Robot, Upper Playground, Quiksilver, Ocean Pacific, KFC International, and Arbor Snowboards.

Blaine Fontana received his BFA in Communication Art/Design from Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, CA in 2002. He was awarded “Best in Show” for his senior thesis project, and is one of only seven distinguished alumni from 2000-2010. He is regularly involved and donates to non profits, charities and volunteers numerous hours for his community, people in need and making this world a better place than how he found it.

Namesake Musician:CAT POWER

"Charlyn Marie "Chan" Marshall (born January 21, 1972), better known by her stage name Cat Power, is an American singer-songwriter, musician, occasional actress, and model. Cat Power was originally the name of Marshall's first band, but has become her moniker as a solo artist.